What does a Standard Age Score mean in the 11 Plus?
The ‘raw (actual) score’ a child achieves in the 11 plus is adjusted to take in to account the child’s exact age.
The examiners identify how well the entire group of candidates have performed and apply a formula to adjust the scores. The standard age scores are derived by comparing a student only with others of the same age. Almost in every case, older students achieve slightly higher raw scores in tests than their younger peers. An older student may in fact gain a higher raw score than a younger student, but have a lower standardised score. This is because the older student is being compared with other students in the norm group. Students of different ages who gain the same standard age score have done equally well, with each being judged in relation to their standing among students of their own age.